Calne motorcycle meet has been saved by bikers and residents who have come forward to secure its future.

The event was in danger of coming to an end due to a lack of volunteers.

But, after a meeting at the Lansdowne Strand Hotel last week, it was announced that the next motorcycle meet will take place on July 27.

Twenty volunteers have formed a committee to take charge of the event, which attracts thousands of people each year, and others have volunteered to help form different task groups.

Support flooded in after town councillor Howard Marshall, who has helped to run the meet for several years, made an appeal.

Coun Marshall said: “The response has been from the biking community and the Calne town team and they are all pulling together to make sure that this year’s bike meeting is a success and has a future.

“It’s what it needed: it’s got new blood, new ideas and enthusiasm now.

“I think it’s going to be even better than it has been, and it’s been pretty good in the past.”

As well as having the bike meet in the town centre, a ride out at 4pm has been suggested. The group is talking to the owners of a field to try to organise an evening barbecue and live music there.

Town councillor Greg Widger, who is a keen biker, will be helping to arrange stalls on the day.

He said: “There was no way that we were going to let it die. I think it’s one of the best things that happens in Calne. It’s a really good draw for people to come to the town – the pubs make a fortune.”

Volunteers are still looking for sponsorship for the event as it costs around £5,000 to organise, and the Calne town team will be responsible for finding business sponsorship.

Desmond Bye, 47, from Stokes Croft, has been to the meet for the past five years and will help to advertise the event in the area.

He said: “There’s been a good response. You only have to look on the Facebook page to see what people are saying. They’re just so chuffed that it’s not going out of Calne.”